Ski binding

ABSTRACT

A ski binding comprises a pair of pivoted jaws, a stop member forming an abutment for extremities of the jaws to limit movement of the jaws together to a boot-holding position, and a spring urging said extremities against a stop member. The spring is disposed along a screw mounted for rotation but against longitudinal movement relative to the stop member, and an end of the spring bears against a non-rotatable nut on an end of the screw. The stop member is screwably mounted on a frame of the binding to enable adjustment of the longitudinal position of the stop member, and hence the separation of the jaws in the bootholding position, independently of adjustment of the force of the spring by the screw.

United States Patent 91 Sentou May 6, 1975 1 SKI BINDING Primary ExaminerTrygve M. Blix Assistant Examiner-Jesus D. Sotelo [75] Inventor. Bernard Sentou, Cluses, France Attorney g or Firm-Robert E. Bums; [73] Assignee: Mitchell S.A. Emmanuel J. Lobato; Bruce L. Adams [221 Filed: June 29, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl' 374993 A ski binding comprises a pair of pivoted jaws, a stop member forming an abutment for extremities of the [30] Foreign Application Priority Data jaws to limit movement of the jaws together to a boot- July 3, 1972 France 72.24209 holding Position, and a Spring urging Said extremities against a stop member. The spring is disposed along a 52 U.S. Cl 280/1135 T Screw mounted for rotation but against longitudinal [51] Int. Cl. A63c 9/00 mOVement relative to the p member, and an end of [58] Field of Search 280/ 1 1.35 R, 1 1.35 A, the Spring bears against a "On-rotatable nut on an end 280/] 5 B, 5 D, 35 1334/14 D of the screw. The stop member is screwably mounted on a frame of the binding to enable adjustment of the 5 References Cited longitudinal position of the stop member, and hence UNITED STATES PATENTS the separation of the jaws in the boot-holding position, independently of adjustment of the force of the spring 3,572,738 3/1971 Martin 280/1135 T y the Screw. 3,638,958 2/1972 Dobler 280/1135 T 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SKI BINDING The invention relates to safety ski bindings. v

A known safety ski binding for freeing a boot when a lateral force reaches a given value comprises two levers pivotally mounted about vertical axes, one end of each lever forming a jaw for engaging a boot sole, the other ends of the levers each being urged by one end of elastic means against a first stationary stop member to bring said jaws into a closed position, the pressure of said elastic means being adjustable by an elongate rotatably actuatable first adjustment element a first end of which bears against a stationary part of the binding and a second threaded end of which cooperates with a nut which is held against rotation and forms a stop for the other end of the elastic means.

Numerous types of such bindings are known, generally front stop or toe bindings adapted to hold the forward or toe end of the sole of a ski boot. Most of the known types include an element for adjusting the separation of the jaws which laterally engage about the sole, so as to enable the binding to be adjusted to accept boot soles of different widths.

Certain of these known bindings achieve such an adjustment by means of elements as schematically shown in FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, which shows a boot sole 1 gripped between two oblique jaws 2 and 3. To take up play, the sole 1 is permanently urged in the direction of arrow F, by means of a spring, not shown. During skiing, this urging increases when the skier slows down, or as a result of an impact on the front of the ski, under the effect of the inertia and speed of the skier. There is consequently a relatively large frictional resistance at the gripping points against lateral displacements of the boot 1 relative to jaws 2 and 3 in the direction of arrow F these displacements occuring when the boot is subjected to a lateral force, and leading to release of the boot from the binding for a given applied lateral force.

Other known bindings reduce the effects of such friction by applying the front end of the boot sole against a fixed central stop 4 at a point 5, as shown in FIG. 2. This arrangement is intended to reduce the effect of jamming as a result of friction, as briefly described above, but in fact any reduction of the friction between the sole and jaws 2 and 3 at points 6 and 7 is at least partially cancelled by friction at point 5.

The safety ski binding according to the invention is characterized in that a stationary stop member comparable with said central stop is formed by a first face of an adjustment element the position of which is adjustable in the direction of compression of elastic means, the second face, opposite to the first, of said adjustment element forming a stationary part of the binding.

With this binding, the separation of the jaws can be set as a function of the width of the sole by means of the said adjustment element, which can be made accessible to the skier. Adjustment of the separation of the jaws enables setting of the jaws to a position such that the sole, whatever be the force exerted thereon, simultaneously bears against two points supporting the axial thrust and two points supporting the lateral thrust. Moreover, this adjustment can be carried out without modifying the compression of the elastic means, e.g., a release spring, controlling the releasing effort, this compression being independently adjustable.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, two adjustment elements, i.e., the first for adjusting the compression of the spring, and the second for adjusting the separation of the jaws, can be made coaxial with one another.

It is also preferred to provide the binding with means for adjusting the height of the jaws, to accomodate soles of different thicknesses.

The invention will now be more specifically described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2, as referred to above, are schematic diagrams illustrating the general shape and positioning of the jaws and stops of known bindings, and the importance of this shape and positioning on operation;

FIG. 3 is a plan view, partially in cross-section, of a binding according to the invention holding a boot in place on a ski; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along line AA of the ski and binding shown in FIG. 3.

The binding shown comprises a base plate 8 fixed to the upper face of a ski 9 in a known manner by means of screws 10. On the plate 8 are fixed two shafts 11 and 12, symmetrically spaced apart from one another about the longitudinal axis of the binding and ski, and disposed vertical to the plate 8. About shafts 11 and 12, are pivotally mounted a pair of levers 13 and 14 respectively.

These two levers each include a main arm 20, extending generally rearwards from the shafts 11 or 12, i.e., substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of the ski and binding, and a short arm 15, the arms 15 extending generally perpendicular to the arms 20 inwardly from the respective shafts 11 and 12. The arms 15 each have a right-angled edge which presses against a front face of a plate 17 which is permanently urged forwardly by a compression spring 18, commonly called the release spring.

At the free, rearward end of each arm 20 are provided two surfaces 21,22 and 23,24, respectively, disposed at an obtuse angle to one another and adapted to bear against parts of the forward end of a sole 25 of a boot 26. In the example shown, the surfaces 21 and 23 are planar, and surfaces 22 and 24 slightly convex.

The binding mechanism is housed in a hollow case 27 fixed on plate 8, the front face of case 27 having a tapped bore 39 directed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ski 9 and the binding. This bore 39 receives an adjustment element in the form of a sleeve 28 with a threaded cylindrical outer part 29 screwed in bore 39, a flange 30 disposed inside the case 27, and a central bore. The faces of arms 15 opposite their edges which bear against plate 17 are applied, by the spring 18, against the end face of flange 30. A lock-nut 41 is screwed on part 29 of sleeve 28 and abuts against the outer face of frame 27, but this lock-nut is optional. The outer forward face of sleeve 28 includes a plurality of accessible holes 38 for engagement with an appropriate tool.

The shank of an elongate screw 31 passes through the bore of sleeve 28, a head 32 of the screw 31 being applied with a very low friction against the outer, end face of sleeve 28. To achieve this low friction between head 31 and the face of sleeve 28, one or both of these pieces can be manufactured in or have a coating of a selflubricating synthetic plastic material. The screw 31 has a threaded end 33 on which a square-headed nut 34 is threadably received, the nut 34 being prevented from rotation by contact with an inner face of the case 27, but being free to move longitudinally along the screw 31 when the latter is rotated. One end of the spring 18 applies against a face of plate 17, and its other end against the nut 34. The end 33 of the screw 31 is threaded over a length to enable the compression of spring 18 to be set at any desired initial value by rotating the screw 31. The plate 17 has a plane, central face 35 which normally, i.e., in the position shown, bears against the edges of arms 15, and two lateral faces 37 disposed at an obtuse angle to face 35, i.e., inclined in the general direction towards spring 18.

On the upper face of each of the ends 20 of the levers 13 and 14 is provided a plate 19 fixed by a screw 40 at an adjustable distance above the upper face of ski 9, so that the jaw formed by end 20 and plate 19 can be adjusted to a desired height to accomodate a boot sole of a given thickness.

Operation of the described binding is as follows. The binding is firstly adjusted to fit the particular boot being used. Adjustment of the separation of the jaws is achieved by rotating the sleeve 28 by means of an appropriate tool, for example a pin spanner the pins of which engage in holes 38 of sleeve 28. The rotation of sleeve 28 causes an axial displacement of sleeve 28 relative to the binding frame, and the flange 30 transmits this displacement to the arms of the levers 13 and 14 and to the plate 17. However, since the head 32 of the screw bears against the sleeve 28, the screw 31 moves longitudinally with the sleeve 28, so that the plate 17, screw 31 and nut 34 all move along by the same amount. This adjustment therefore does not involve any variation of the compression of spring 18.

The axial dispacement of arms 15 upon rotation of the sleeve 28 does, however, cause the levers 13,14 to turn about their respective shaft, 11 and 12. Consequently, the jaws at the ends of the levers are moved apart or together by a given amount, so that the separation of the jaws can be adjusted as a function of the width of the boot sole, without modifying the compression of spring 18.

The compression of spring 18 can be adjusted by the skier independently of (i.e., prior to or after) the above adjustment by turning the head 32 of screw 31, for example by means of a screwdriver. Since the nut 34 is prevented from rotating by engagement with a flat of the case 27, an axial displacement of screw 31 relative to sleeve 28 compresses or relaxes the spring 18 by a desired degree, to provide a value judged to be adequate for correct and safe release of a boot from the binding.

Adjustment of the height of the jaws is effected by means of screws 40.

In use, if either jaw is subjected to a given lateral force, the corresponding lever 13 or 14 pivots outwardly about its shaft 11 or 12 against the action of spring 18 transmitted by the face 35 of plate 17 acting against the edge of the arm 15. As soon as this edge 6 moves onto an inclined face 37, the force of spring 18 tending to hold the lever inwards is reduced, and the held boot can be released after which the binding springs back to its initial position.

The described binding is advantageous when good skiing security is required by economic means which can be simply and reliably adjusted.

What is claimed is:

1. Safety ski binding comprising a frame, a pair of jaw members pivotally mounted on the frame for movement of boot-engaging parts of the members together and apart, a stop member constituting an abutment for extremities of the jaw members which limits movement of the boot-engaging parts together, elastic means for urging said extremities of the jaw members towards the stop member to tend to hold said boot-engaging parts together in a boot-holding position, a screw mounted for rotation but against longitudinal movement relative to the stop member, the elastic means being disposed along the screw, a nut threadably engaged on the screw and constituting a support against which the elastic means bears, means for fixing the nut against rotation but allowing movement thereof along the longitudinal direction of the screw to enable adjustment of the force of the elastic means by rotation of the screw, and adjustment means for screwably mounting the stop member on the frame to enable adjustment of the position of the stop member in the longitudinal direction of the screw and thereby adjustment of the separation of said boot-engaging parts in said boot-holding position independently of any adjustment of the force of the elastic means by the screw and nut.

2. Binding according to claim 1 wherein said adjustment means comprises a sleeve having threaded outer surface concentric with said screw.

3. A ski binding device comprising a mounting member;

two jaw levers pivotally mounted on said member about vertical axes and each having jaw means on one end for rearwardly laterally pressing against a boot sole with an elastic force which can be overcome to free the boot when a lateral force on the boot reaches a given value, each lever also having an other end;

elastic means for longitudinally engaging the other ends of said levers with pressure to cause the jaw means to engage the boot sole;

elongate rotatably actuatable first adjustment means for adjusting said given value, said elongate means having a first end which bears against said mounting member, and having a second threaded end;

a nut threaded on said second threaded end and held against rotation to constitute a stop for a free end of the elastic means and thereby to adjust the pressure of the elastic means; and

a second adjustment means mounted on said mounting member in a longitudinally adjustable position for laterally adjusting the positions of said jaw means to fit boot soles of different size, independently of said adjusting of the pressure of the elastic means.

4. Binding device according to claim 3 including plate means for transmitting the pressure of the elastic means to said other ends of the jaw levers, said plate means having a flat central face and two outer faces adjacent to opposite edges of the central face and inclined to the central face in the general direction of the elastic means.

5. A ski binding device comprising two jaw levers pivotally mounted on a ski about vertical axes and each having jaw means on one end for rearwardly laterally pressing against a boot sole with an elastic force which can be overcome to free the boot when a lateral force on the boot reaches a given value, each lever also having an other end;

constitute a stop for a second end of the elastic means; and

a second adjustment means comprising a sleeve mounted on said stationary member in a longitudinally adjustable position and having a flange at a first end thereof constituting a stop for said other ends of said jaw levers, said sleeve having a second end, against which said first end of said first adjustment means bears with low friction. 

1. Safety ski binding comprising a frame, a pair of jaw members pivotally mounted on the frame for movement of boot-engaging parts of the members together and apart, a stop member constituting an abutment for extremities of the jaw members which limits movement of the boot-engaging parts together, elastic means for urging said extremities of the jaw members towards the stop member to tend to hold said boot-engaging parts together in a boot-holding position, a screw mounted for rotation but against longitudinal movement relative to the stop member, the elastic means being disposed along The screw, a nut threadably engaged on the screw and constituting a support against which the elastic means bears, means for fixing the nut against rotation but allowing movement thereof along the longitudinal direction of the screw to enable adjustment of the force of the elastic means by rotation of the screw, and adjustment means for screwably mounting the stop member on the frame to enable adjustment of the position of the stop member in the longitudinal direction of the screw and thereby adjustment of the separation of said bootengaging parts in said boot-holding position independently of any adjustment of the force of the elastic means by the screw and nut.
 2. Binding according to claim 1 wherein said adjustment means comprises a sleeve having threaded outer surface concentric with said screw.
 3. A ski binding device comprising a mounting member; two jaw levers pivotally mounted on said member about vertical axes and each having jaw means on one end for rearwardly laterally pressing against a boot sole with an elastic force which can be overcome to free the boot when a lateral force on the boot reaches a given value, each lever also having an other end; elastic means for longitudinally engaging the other ends of said levers with pressure to cause the jaw means to engage the boot sole; elongate rotatably actuatable first adjustment means for adjusting said given value, said elongate means having a first end which bears against said mounting member, and having a second threaded end; a nut threaded on said second threaded end and held against rotation to constitute a stop for a free end of the elastic means and thereby to adjust the pressure of the elastic means; and a second adjustment means mounted on said mounting member in a longitudinally adjustable position for laterally adjusting the positions of said jaw means to fit boot soles of different size, independently of said adjusting of the pressure of the elastic means.
 4. Binding device according to claim 3 including plate means for transmitting the pressure of the elastic means to said other ends of the jaw levers, said plate means having a flat central face and two outer faces adjacent to opposite edges of the central face and inclined to the central face in the general direction of the elastic means.
 5. A ski binding device comprising two jaw levers pivotally mounted on a ski about vertical axes and each having jaw means on one end for rearwardly laterally pressing against a boot sole with an elastic force which can be overcome to free the boot when a lateral force on the boot reaches a given value, each lever also having an other end; a stationary member on the ski; elastic means for longitudinally engaging, with a first end thereof, the other ends of said levers with pressure to cause the jaw means to engage the boot sole; elongate rotatably actuatable first adjustment means, for adjusting said given value, said elongate means having a first end which bears against the stationary member and having a second, threaded end and a nut threaded thereon and held against rotation to constitute a stop for a second end of the elastic means; and a second adjustment means comprising a sleeve mounted on said stationary member in a longitudinally adjustable position and having a flange at a first end thereof constituting a stop for said other ends of said jaw levers, said sleeve having a second end, against which said first end of said first adjustment means bears with low friction. 